Latest NBA voting bears foreboding omen for Timberwolves Jaden McDaniels
By Bret Stuter
If you are of the opinion that Minnesota Timberwolves’ small forward Jaden McDaniels is among the best defensive players in the NBA today, you are not alone. But if you are of the opinion that Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels is among the best defensive players in the NBA today, and you can cast your vote to determine who is honored by being named to the NBA’s All-Defense team, you most certainly are.
At least, that is a safe conclusion based on the 2022-23 KIA NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting results. 12 NBA players received at least one vote for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But Jaden McDaniels was not among them. In fact, no Minnesota Timberwolves player received a single vote.
Final voting results for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and not a single vote for Jaden McDaniels…
— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) April 18, 2023
How? pic.twitter.com/FyPC7nCAKA
That’s a hard pill to swallow, particularly considering the fact that the Minnesota Timberwolves have been actively campaigning for some NBA recognition for McDaniels this season. Like Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards’ efforts to be honored with an NBA All-Star naming earlier in the year, the voters appear to gloss over small-market teams and players as they are simply not the hottest names in the NBA at any given time.
That is by no means saying that McDaniels is not deserving of the honor of being named to the NBA All-Defense Team. He has most certainly earned that honor. Just check out the Timberwolves webpage dedicated to Jaden McDaniels’ campaign to earn All-Defense honors, where the site lists 10 NBA All-Stars who struggle to score when Jaden McDaniels defends them.
If only that translated into something more than a website.
The NBA does not easily let go of their favorite names. But it is a different story when you ask the players. Just check out this survey of 98 NBA players over who the best defender is:
The Athletic asked 98 active NBA players who the best defender is. Here are the results: pic.twitter.com/pcLwgCwKxl
— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) April 18, 2023
Jaden McDaniels appears as the sixth-ranked defender in that survey.
Trending. Minnesota Timberwolves are learning this important lesson in Round 1 of NBA Playoffs. light
What can be done? At this point not much. As with so many things that happen in life, what’s done is done. McDaniels can only put his nose to the grindstone and use this snub as an incentive to play that much harder when he returns.
In the meantime, prepare to be disappointed when McDaniels does not appear on the NBA All-Defense Team. Even though he deserves the honor, it does not appear as though the voters think so.